--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A musician's or artist's responsibility…" description: "\"“A musician's or artist's responsibility is a simple one, and that is, through your music to tell the truth,”\" — Tom Morello" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/tom-morello-5390_art_a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility_2457485.jpg" --- # A musician's or artist's responsibility is a simple one… ![“A musician's or artist's responsibility is a simple one, and that is, through your music to tell the truth,” quote by Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/tom-morello-5390_art_a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility_2457485.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/tom-morello-5390_art_a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility_2457485.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/tom-morello-5390_art_a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility_2457485.jpg) > ““A musician's or artist's responsibility is a simple one, and that is, through your music to tell the truth,”” [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Artists should use their music to convey honesty and truthfulness. **In simple terms:** Music should tell the truth. Key Takeaway Create honest, authentic art. Themes truth responsibility art music integrity Mood reflective serious Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - songwriting - public speaking - activism - media interviews Key Concepts ethical expression social commentary authenticity Questions to Reflect On - How do you define truth in your work? - What risks come with speaking truth? A Different Perspective Truth may be subjective; audiences may resist. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [A musicians or artists responsibility is a simple one, and that is, through your music to tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/a-musicians-or-artists-responsibility-is-a-simple-one-and-that-is/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [When you're playing country music, you have to tell the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-kane/when-you-re-playing-country-music-you-have-to-tell-the-truth/) [Christian Kane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-kane/) > [I hate talking about music, to tell you the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/i-hate-talking-about-music-to-tell-you-the-truth/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [In the interests of everyone the artist had a responsibility to use his medium well. In the Tibetan culture, most of the paintings are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dalai-lama/in-the-interests-of-everyone-the-artist-had-a-responsibility-to-use/) [Dalai Lama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dalai-lama/) > [I'm having fun just being a musician as well as an artist at this point.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peabo-bryson/i-m-having-fun-just-being-a-musician-as-well-as-an-artist-at-this/) [Peabo Bryson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peabo-bryson/) > [I'm not trying to save the world. As a musician and artist, it just ain't me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-jackson/i-m-not-trying-to-save-the-world-as-a-musician-and-artist-it-just-ain/) [Curtis Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-jackson/) > [A musician, an artist, an architect: the man or woman who is not one of these is not a Christian.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-blake/a-musician-an-artist-an-architect-the-man-or-woman-who-is-not-one-of/) [William Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-blake/) > [“I think if you are a musician, and artist, you have to have a certain courage. Repeating yourself or photocopying other's art... it's cowardice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-gabriel-fischer/i-think-if-you-are-a-musician-and-artist-you-have-to-have-a-certain/) Thomas Gabriel Fischer > [Being a musician and artist can feel superficial at times - you talk about yourself every day and pose for photos for the magazines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuna/being-a-musician-and-artist-can-feel-superficial-at-times-you-talk/) [Yuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuna/) > [If you're a musician and an artist, you don't just stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siobhan-fahey/if-you-re-a-musician-and-an-artist-you-don-t-just-stop/) [Siobhan Fahey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siobhan-fahey/) > [I don't consider myself a musician. I'm an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-i-a/i-don-t-consider-myself-a-musician-i-m-an-artist/) M.I.A > [A martial artist has to take responsibility for himself and accept the consequences of his own doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-lee/a-martial-artist-has-to-take-responsibility-for-himself-and-accept/) [Bruce Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-lee/) > [A work of art does not need an explanation. The work has to speak for itself. The work may be subject to many interpretations,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-bourgeois/a-work-of-art-does-not-need-an-explanation-the-work-has-to-speak-for/) [Louise Bourgeois](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-bourgeois/) > [To be an artist is to take responsibility for the world's destiny. You shape it by your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-gartel/to-be-an-artist-is-to-take-responsibility-for-the-world-s-destiny-you/) [Laurence Gartel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-gartel/) > [An artist's responsibility is a lot. I can't deny and escape from the responsibility. You have to be very guarded about your personal behaviour,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chiranjeevi/an-artist-s-responsibility-is-a-lot-i-can-t-deny-and-escape-from-the/) [Chiranjeevi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chiranjeevi/) ## More by Tom Morello > [Music and the arts feed our souls, but a decent wage puts food on the table. Musicians, fans of music, and grassroots political organizations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/music-and-the-arts-feed-our-souls-but-a-decent-wage-puts-food-on-the/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [Poverty is curable, but it’s just not done, because it's not profitable. And that is the kind of violence that's perpetuated on humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/poverty-is-curable-but-it-s-just-not-done-because-it-s-not-profitable/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [In America, we have freedom of choice. But some are free to choose between Lamborghini and Rolls Royce while others are free to choose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/in-america-we-have-freedom-of-choice-but-some-are-free-to-choose/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [The reason why many young people in the Vietnam War era were active was their lives were threatened by the draft and they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/the-reason-why-many-young-people-in-the-vietnam-war-era-were-active/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [Well, I don't care for Paul Ryan's sound or his lyrics. He can like whatever bands he wants, but his guiding vision of shifting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/well-i-don-t-care-for-paul-ryan-s-sound-or-his-lyrics-he-can-like/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [I think it's crucially important to be present in the lives of your children. They are my most important cause that I fight for.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-think-it-s-crucially-important-to-be-present-in-the-lives-of-your/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [Charles Manson loved the Beatles but didn’t understand them. Governor Chris Christie loves Bruce Springsteen but doesn’t understand him. And Paul Ryan is clueless…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/charles-manson-loved-the-beatles-but-didn-t-understand-them-governor/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [I literally integrated the small town of Libertyville, Illinois. I was the first person of color to reside within its borders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-literally-integrated-the-small-town-of-libertyville-illinois-i-was/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [As a guitar player, I've been influenced by dance music - it was Crystal Method and The Prodigy back in the day. I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/as-a-guitar-player-i-ve-been-influenced-by-dance-music-it-was-crystal/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [I have another name for what they're terming whistleblowers, and that's righteous heroes. From Bradley Manning to Snowden. They're people of conscience who are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-have-another-name-for-what-they-re-terming-whistleblowers-and-that/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [I'd say that one area where my political views have remained unchanged is that, I am opposed to the government spying on everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-d-say-that-one-area-where-my-political-views-have-remained/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [Racism is a problem, economic inequality is a problem, not enough rock n' roll on the radio is a problem. But all those problems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/racism-is-a-problem-economic-inequality-is-a-problem-not-enough-rock/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [I grew up on misogynist, devil-worshipping heavy metal music, and then it was groups like The Clash and Public Enemy that reminded me that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/i-grew-up-on-misogynist-devil-worshipping-heavy-metal-music-and-then/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [Being a musician is a given for me-I didn't have much choice in the matter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/being-a-musician-is-a-given-for-me-i-didn-t-have-much-choice-in-the/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) > [Unity and resistance is a strong American trait.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/unity-and-resistance-is-a-strong-american-trait/) [Tom Morello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) [Explore all 101 Tom Morello quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) Taf Teh > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“A musician's or artist's responsibility is a simple one, and that is, through your music to tell the truth,”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Tom Morello" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility-is-a-simple-one-and-that-is/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Art" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility-is-a-simple-one-and-that-is/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/tom-morello-5390_art_a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility_2457485.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/tom-morello-5390_art_a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility_2457485.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c2b/tom-morello-5390_art_a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility_2457485.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“A musician's or artist's responsibility is a simple one, and that is, through your music to tell the truth,” — Tom Morello", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Tom Morello", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-morello/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“A musician's or artist's responsibility is...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility-is-a-simple-one-and-that-is/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-morello/a-musician-s-or-artist-s-responsibility-is-a-simple-one-and-that-is/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```